How effective is online health information for colorectal cancer screening?

The most recent issue of the International Journal of Colorectal Disease examined how effective colorectal cancer screening patient online education materials were.

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Patients screened for colorectal cancer frequently turn to the Internet to improve their understanding of tests used for detection, including colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, fecal occult blood test, and CT colonography.

The screening tools were googled, and the top 20 results of each test were analyzed for readability, accessibility, usability, and reliability.

80 articles were written at an 11.7 grade level

International Journal of Colorectal Disease

The 80 articles excluded scientific literature and blogs.

The research team found that 80 articles were written at an 11.7 grade level, with CT colonography articles written at significantly higher levels than fecal occult blood test articles.

The researchers found that LIDA showed moderate percentages in accessibility, usability, and reliability.

Dr John's team concluded, "Online health information about colorectal cancer screening tools are written at higher levels than the National Institute of Health, and American Medical Association recommended third to seventh grade levels."

"More patients could benefit from this modality of information if it were written at a level and quality that would better facilitate understanding."